Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
AYDA
The word fuck whispered from my mouth always seemed to get me what I wanted from Drew, although he was definitely getting his own way, too.
There was no losing when it came to our sex.
The king bed had been so comfortable, it was close to pulling us both to sleep once we’d exhausted ourselves, but with a slap to my naked ass, Drew sent me to get ready for an impromptu date.
The water pressure in the hotel room was divine, and my skin was still tingling when I’d finished my makeup and dried my hair.
I was standing in front of the large mirror, staring at myself in the only dress I’d brought with me.
Pulling on my leather jacket and boots, I rushed from the room to meet Drew in the lobby where he had left to greet the Uber he’d ordered for us.
I slipped out the sliding doors into the odd city glow and found him holding open the door to a small minivan.
He was deep in conversation with a tall gentleman who was wearing a leather vest and a cowboy hat.
I would have paid more attention to that man if it hadn’t been for Drew himself.
He looked amazing in his jeans and white button up, he always did, but the Texas girl in me fell apart in absolute lust when I noticed the boots he was wearing.
Lucchese cowboy boots. I didn’t have to look closer to know the brand. It was all in the quality.
As though he felt my sudden sweep of need, Drew glanced my way and smiled that smile I considered mine and mine alone. I responded with a twirl and a small, almost shy shrug.
His heated eyes swept over me, his smile growing before he found my face again and winked, tilting his head in the direction of the man beside him and holding his hand out.
As easily as that, I made my way to him, my hand slipping into his and stepping to his side to face the gentleman he was talking to. The man had one of those faces you instantly liked, his smile warm and genuine, his eyes filled with stories as a paternal smile lit them up.
“You must be, Ayda,” he said kindly, offering me his hand.
I offered a smile back. “It’s nice to meet you...” I left the end of the sentence open on purpose, dangling it and waiting for someone to pick it up.
“My friends call me Big Tex,” he said. “As Drew hired me as y’all’s driver for the night, I figure we’re friends now, Miss Ayda.”
“Just don’t try and touch his hat. Looks like a teddy bear, stings like a bee.” Drew smirked.
I turned my gaze to the large man and smiled. “Well, you never touch a cowboy’s hat. I learned that the hard way when I was about seven.”
Big Tex chuckled and tipped the brim of his hat to me before stepping aside, allowing Drew to help me into the first row of seats. Drew spoke quietly with the cowboy for a moment before he followed me in.
Both of us listened as Big Tex told us some interesting stories of prior fares, including a foursome of ladies who had kept him entertained for an evening. He segued effortlessly into his family, and he didn’t think twice about sharing stories of his beautiful grandchildren with us.
I listened intently—my body pressed against Drew’s while his fingers gently stroked my bare knee, a bemused smile curling his lips.
He was content to let me do all the questioning.
Along with his interesting stories, Big Tex seemed happy to point out some of Dallas’s more prevalent landmarks as we passed, even managing to squeeze in a few I didn’t know about, along with the rich history of the city.
I was so invested in our conversation that I barely noticed our exit from the freeway or the big neon cowboy boot that rolled out like a welcome wagon as we turned into an already full parking lot. Outside of the Houston Rodeo, I’d never seen so many pickup trucks in one place before.
“Cowboy Red River,” I read aloud and glanced over at Drew, who was just smiling at me like a cat that definitely got the cream. “You’re taking me dancing?”
“I’m taking my girl dancing.” He squeezed my hand, which was already in his, a side of him shining through I’d never seen before.
I thought I’d seen every side he had to give me already.
“We don’t talk about our first real date anymore.
I wanted to give you a new memory of us.
One you can keep, no matter what the future holds for us, or for the club. ”
I couldn’t stop my smile, even with the uncertainty at the end of his statement. “Well, this may be our first real date from now on, but it’s far from the last now that I know you can dance. I don’t think you understand how appealing that really is.”
“Oh, whoa. Wait.” He raised both brows. “I can carry myself across a dance floor without killing anyone. Don’t you be having me down as some kind of expert over here.”
“Too late. You and me, we have a date on a dance floor.” I gave a tug on his arm and grinned at Big Tex who was chuckling at our exchange.
“If you don’t two-step with her, son, I sure as hell will,” Big Tex cried as he got out of the car, he waited for us both to get out and led the way across the parking lot.
Neither of us had a chance to respond before Big Tex grabbed his hat, tipped it, tilted his chin towards the sky and offered the whole place a very loud, “Yeehaw!”
When Drew turned to me, he rolled his eyes playfully and reached for my hand. “Here’s to us, darlin’,” he said quietly, tugging me to his side.
I was giddy as we made our way to the front.
There was a long line of people waiting to get in, but as with most things, the rules were never the same for Drew Tucker, and he and Tex somehow managed to get us expedited inside with a few extra smiles from the bouncers as they greeted Tex with a warmth that came with familiarity.
Excitement bubbled inside of me as we entered.
Darkness enveloped us at the same time as Brooks and Dunn’s Neon Moon swept over us.
My smile grew, my heart pounded, and then the subtle lights of the large open space illuminated everything.
The dance floor was a wide oval that surrounded a bar, and on the stage was a band setting up to play.
Tex guided us through the crowd that was packed into the ample space, everyone inside almost shoulder-to-shoulder.
There were smaller bars set up in random spots.
The floor was littered with napkins, which seemed really odd until I saw a server toss a stack into the air with a joy-filled laugh as she flirted with one of the security guys floating around the place.
The people packing in around them let out a small cheer before going back to their conversations.
The place went on forever. As we finally made it to an area with a bit more breathing room, we stepped up into an elevated section tucked into the back that was filled with well-occupied pool tables.
I also saw the mechanical bull to our right, and I couldn’t help my smile as a small blonde took her eight seconds like a boss, only to fall right off when she raised her arms in triumph.
The whole club reminded me of the Houston club Gilley’s from the movie Urban Cowboy.
I’d watched that movie on repeat as a kid because that was where my parents had met.
I’d had this crazy dream of going there when I was old enough, but the place had burned down a year after I’d been born…
something that had made my six-year-old heart break.
Now I watched the movie on my parents’ anniversary as my way of keeping them, and their story alive.
I turned to look at Drew, more than aware that he’d been watching me take in my surroundings, and I gave him a huge smile.
“You really do pay attention, don’t you?” I shouted over the song that was playing.
“You’re not always as subtle as you think you are.”
“No,” I said, stepping closer and giving him a look I knew he would translate easily. “I think you’re better at reading me than I realize. There’s no way you could have known about this.”
The look he gave me spoke of nothing but love and seduction.
“I guess you’re the first person I’ve ever really wanted to listen to when they talk.
Falling asleep together most nights, the shit we say.
” He blew his cheeks out and released the air in one long stream.
“I like it. I like you. I like the way we are together.”
I’d smiled so much since we’d arrived in Dallas that my cheeks were beginning to hurt.
This moment between us, though—this meant more than I think even he could appreciate.
I could feel my love for him growing inside my chest like a living being.
It took me over, and everything else just faded to black.
For one brief second, I was breathless because I knew that no matter what this man asked of me, I would do it.
No questions asked. I knew I would never love anyone else the way I loved him, and all I could do was embrace it.
“Love isn’t a big enough word for the way I feel about you,” I declared, not really caring who heard me.
“Show me when you fuck me later.” He grinned.
“You bet your ass I will.”
Drew led me to one of the round bars and ordered our drinks, while I glanced around for our gracious guide.
Big Tex must have wandered away from us as we’d been talking amongst ourselves.
I eventually found him on one of the elevated seating areas, talking to a couple of the security guys like he belonged there.
He seemed perfectly content, so I turned my attention back to the sensory overload that was the club, watching the napkins fly and the dancers spin in familiar steps, my own feet tapping to the beats now flowing from the speakers.